Rule of Packing:

Schedule

Breaking Camp:
a) Load electronics
b) Pack tent
c) Pack sleeping bags
d) Pack personal gear
e) Pack extra gear
f) Saddle horses

On a slow pack day:
a) Wash and pack dishes
b) Pack stove
c) Pack kitchen
d) Pack pots

On a fast pack day (the day before departure):
a) Brush horses manes and tails, body check
b) Wash their backs off with water
c) Do all cooking
d) Prepare Breakfast
e) Wash and pack pans
f) Pack big radio
g) Pack big light
h) Pack battery banks

The only luxury that is not packed away the day before for a fast pack day is the quick container with small light and MP3 player. The containers I’ve devised are made to pack up in seconds in the morning.

When picking up gear around the camp, lay it in front of the box or top pack it belongs to so they can be packed at all at once and in order. Anything not included becomes very hard to pack if it is out of order. This slows down the break up of camp.

On fast pack days, any breakfast foods for morning must be prepared the night before and can also consist of snack munchies to eat while riding.

If it has to be a very quick morning: no tent or air bed. If the weather is nice, put air bed on top of saddle pads—no tent.

When saddling, have a system that is fast. Example: when it is time to unsaddle there are three items to do first. Count them as you do it. *unsnap breast collar *unsnap britchen *unsnap breast collar strap from cinch. The saddle is then ready for the rigging to be thrown over. This should be done the same way every time in order that the gear stays untangled, is quicker to remove and also to put back on the horse the next riding day. The order should be: latigo, britchen on the left to cinch, then breast collar on the right. Walk from left to right around the horse as you pack the rigging up tightly.

Saddles can be laid out the night before to each tree you plan to tie a horse. As the pads are ready, they can be stacked on the saddle. If a saddle has two pads, the first pad must be stacked on top.

Saddle bags must be able to attach to the saddle in mere seconds.

Each saddle should have a clamp to hold the lead rope and reins in order that the ropes and reins not be tied.

Unloading horses:
a) Boxes should be unloaded in front of the tent door, so when opened the boxes are in full view
b) Top packs are unloaded off the right side

Setting up camp:
a) Unload the horse with the ropes first
b) Bell and turn loose horses
c) If grazing is near, picket each horse as soon as unloaded
d) If grazing is far, tie loose horses and both picket horses
e) Set up tent and bed
f) Get water in camp, for both solar shower and bucket

Meals:
a) While cooking, keep organized and clean up as you go
b) Have water available to wash stuff
c) When done with ingredients, pack away immediately
e) When finished eating, do dishes or soak with camp water if next day is a layover

At Camp:
a) Have a schedule for layover days
b) Spend time repairing
c) Check and move horses in morning and night: watering
d) Check on horses between watering
e) Do laundry when more than two pairs of socks are dirty
f) Spend the same amount of time each day doing chores (this includes repair)

Trail Morals:
a) No cussing
b) No loosing temper with bad horses
c) No fighting while riding
e) If fight does occur, No running off or splitting up gear (if riding coupled.) Deal with it.
f) No drinking of alcoholic beverages

Even during the worse trail conditions, reflect on the freedom of travel and beauty in the environment.

If you need to eat before dinner when riding, then make up a bag of munchies like trail mix or energy bars.

(When coupled) Everyone fights, but when it comes to riding and packing: follow the rules.

When I'm trying to figure out a route or am lost or dealing with a problem, I need silence to figure out what to do even if I get nasty. Silence from a partner is the only way I can keep calm and figure out the solution.

While riding, pray constantly that the Expedition is offered to God and to do God's will.